TO THE EDITOR OF THE SAMOA TIMES.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 2, 13 October 1877, Page 2

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SAMOA TIMES.

Sr It, —] will feel obliged by your I inserting the enclosed protest, and also allowing mo a further space, to explain tlie actions of George Austin Woods, and G. W. Griffin, United States Consul. As you ore aware, Mr. Woods arrived here from Fiji, per Bhering, armed yith a host of documents, on wldch lie heped to obtain the long coveted property of G. J. Smith, and Co. Mr. Woods on his arrival here, wrote to the British Consul, enclosing certain documents, and requested Mr. Liardq to place him in possession of the property. Mr, Liardet notified Mr. Couhrough, and myself, as Attorneys for the firm 01 G. J. Smith, and Co., that such application had been made, ami forwarded copies of the documents, to which we replied, that on Monday, we would lie prepared to show that Mr. Woods had no legal rydit 1 or authority to make any claim to he put in possession. As Mr. Liardet did not at once accede to Mr, Woods request, that person, to expedite matters, applied to Mr. t'onsdl Griffin to assist him. and this gentleman immediately made a raid on our I premises, on behalf of certain debts alleged to Is- due to an American , Company, by Stewart, Cooper, and Co., j • if Fiji. Mr. Wood-, although representing Unit he held powers from Lcvtlktt! | creditors, notified the United States!

Consul, that he had abandoned all i English claims in favor of th Ki.incisco Cracker C mtpany, and w w | betraying the trusts alleged to be i imposed on him by the Uvula creditors. It is needless to go fully into the leg.iliu of the actions of Woods, and « Griffin", Buffice it to say, that in the first I place. Mr. Woods, as an English subject. had no right to apply to Consul Onihn, except through the British Consul; and \ in the second place, it is an established , fact, that an attorney cannot be. sued for any debt duo by his principal, consequently, had Mr. Woods' claims been - ever so just," he could not sue to ( recover until Mr. Stewart, or some of the ; other partners were present. As attorney for G. J. Smith, and Co., I could not stand calmly by, and see the property of the firm being illegally disposed of, a.s I felt that I had a double j duty to perform, in not only protecting the people which 1 represent, but also, , any English or colonial creditors. On the same night, 1 retook possession of the premises on Captain Mair arresting the United States Marshal, Mr. Martin, (on a warrant from the British Consul), and i have- retained possession uf the property < ever since. Mr. (Iriilin must have known, that he I was committing an illegal act, in forcibly taking possession of the property of a , British linn ; but. no doubt, the -high price placed on the carpet bag," coupled with the fact, that Mr. Woods had agreed to hold the place by force, was Mr. Griffin's great inducement to place t himself in so false a position. Since the departure of the illustrious ' Mr. O. A Woods, late of 11.M.5. Cambria, Mr. Griffin has played a new role as house-breaker, (backed up by deluded • Frenchmen), in search of a refectory i citizen, in the person of ('apt. Wright. Mr. (''.usul Griffin's actions distinctly points to the one fact, that he did not require the portly carcass of Captain Wright, but on the pretext of arresting that gentleman, he thought that he could induced his French police to break into the store of 0. J. Smith, and Co., and then with their assistance hold possession until Mr. W 1 should arrive. At the requst of Mr. Consul Griffin, and on French authoritv, Lieutenant Anorac, broke into the premises, and insulted the British Hag. 1 ivjivt that Captain Aubo should have listened to the voice of the charmer in Mr. (iilderov Wells Griffin, and ; allowed (this renowned author of Denmark shades) to make him a dupe; but, I trust that ere he readies Tahiti, }

lie will recognise tlie ahsuruuy 01 nis grand naval dispiav," in landing one 'hundred persons to arrest one. and on reflection be a better and wiser man. There is an old savin-, which Consul Griffin may take "I ic to himself. '• Fools rush in where wise men fear to tread." I am. Sir. Yours obediently, W. J. 111-NT. Attorney for C. .1. Smith, \- Co.